Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Do You Suffer From Any?
Carbon monoxide is poisonous, silent, colorless, tasteless, and odorless.
You might not be aware that you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning until it is too late, possibly while you are asleep.
Owning a wood stove, is it? Pellet heater LP Propane, Natural Gas, or Oil as a heating source?
You may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning if the combustion or venting is insufficient, faulty, or leaky.
Here’s what you need to know!
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How Does Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Happen?
Carbon Monoxide is produced whenever a combustible fuel is burned. The amount produced depends on the fuel and the quality of the burn or combustion. A poor burn or improper ventilation will build up a high concentration of Carbon Monoxide in the home.
You can’t smell it, so you won’t know that it’s happening.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide in high concentrations starves the oxygen from bodily tissues.
This could lead to seizure, coma, and fatality.
Preliminary Symptoms
- Flu-like
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Muscle aches
- Shortness of breath
How Many People Die or Treated from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Each Year?
- In the United States, more than 400 people die each year from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
- Thousands of people each year require emergency treatment.
- Dangerous Levels ( PPM )? (parts per million)
- It only takes a minuscule amount to harm or kills you. As little as 100 parts per million (ppm) can result in Carbon Monoxide poisoning and give you a headache after 1-2 hours.
- 400 ppm can be life-threatening after 3 hours.
How is Carbon Monoxide Deadly?
Hemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen from the lung to our organs. But it has an affinity for Carbon Monoxide that is 200 times its affinity for oxygen!
So it gets grabbed up first and oxygen gets pushed aside. It stays attached to the hemoglobin for hours, so as it is taken up it begins to saturate the blood.
Eventually (quickly) NO OXYGEN can be taken up and transported to the cells of our organs, and they begin to die.
Will Carbon Monoxide Accumulate Downstairs or Upstairs?
Carbon Monoxide is a gas that weighs slightly less than air.
It will tend to rise and accumulate more upstairs in a home if the heating system is malfunctioning.
However, the first floor is still vulnerable under the same circumstances!
New Construction Modern ‘Tight’ Homes
Back in the “Old Days” the houses were not constructed as ‘tight’ as they are today. Basically, they leaked air like crazy, which is why old houses took so much energy to heat.
In most old houses, more than half of the heat loss was from cold air leaking in. Carbon Monoxide could not build up as quickly inside.
With newer ‘tight’ construction, less infiltration (leakage) means that gases can build up inside, and Carbon Monoxide can concentrate if a source is there.
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How To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A furnace that is not completely and efficiently burning all of its fuel (poor combustion) will produce excess Carbon Monoxide. Regular service is advised.
Furnaces with air-intake filters can clog, causing poor fuel combustion and high Carbon Monoxide levels. Periodically check the air intake.
Furnaces with improper venting (including wood stoves) will release high amounts of Carbon Monoxide into the living area.
Prevention is the key to survival.
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
